@SharkClubDundas Game Day: Game #76, Red Wings at Maple Leafs

0 points out of 14 in the three-point era NHL is unconscionable, let alone at this time of the season. Even when the Sabres started the season with seven straight losses, they scraped a point out of OT. What is there to say at this point? Even despite all the talk about regression and questions surrounding the sustainability of their earlier success, this is beyond anything that can be easily explained. It’s a total collapse at a time when all the Leafs had to do was scrape out a handful of points to still be in decent shape. It’s ridiculous. It’s hard to imagine anyone feels worse than the players after the position they put themselves in through 67-68 games, but Wow. Wow.

The Leafs play the Red Wings back at home tonight. It’s now at a point where playoffs are unlikely, but what do the Leafs want to be remembered by? Obviously it will be for yet another collapse, but is it going to be 7 games, 8 games, 9 games? 10? What’s going to be the number?

The Leafs have to at least make this interesting rather than disappearing into the off season with their tail between their legs. A win over Detroit, combined with today’s earlier loss by Washington, at least keeps things interesting.

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The reason we've been giving up so many goals while on the PP is that they've figured out how to stop Kessel, you pressure him even if he's up high near the point.

1) Confidence killer. Detroit scored their first goal when they double-teamed Kessel. In the immediate vicinity of the puck, there were two Wings on Kessel while Gardiner could only watch hoping Kessel could get the puck to him, those are good odds considering they're down a man.

2) Detroit's 3rd goal was scored because their point man had no pressure from our forward AND they had a man leisurely sun-bathing in front of Bernier for the tip in because our D man left him to try and challenge that point shot. That was 5 vs 5, where's our forward? Pressure the point and the shot isn't on net or block out the forward and there's no tip-in.

3) You make your luck. With the Leafs trying to press late in the 3rd, Franson's shot hits a leg. Why? Because the Wings forward was close enough to pressure and rush his shot. It's not luck, you increase the chance of pucks going off shin pads when you're face-to-face with the puck handler.

MacArthur and Grabo right now combined for 85 points. Bolland and Clarkson combined for 21 points (yes I know Bolland's missed most of the season). 60 odd points down...

Even adding Raymond to Bolland and Clarkson gets their combined total up to 65... that's still 20 missing points. Add in the better defence of MacArthur and Grabo over Raymond and Clarkson, Toronto's not in this position right now if they had kept them. Added insult is six more years of Clarkson who gives us the same production as McClement.

If it happens it happens but I would push for the playoffs. One of the many things I agreed with Burke is that you need to have a winning culture. The young players need to learn how to win otherwise they get comfortable with losing and get lazy. This is why I love Gardiner and Rielly right now... those two have seriously put this team on their backs the past 8 games and have really stepped up to try and get this team into the playoffs. That's how you get players to grow and become better.

@GreekGod@Black_Hawk yeah thats true, i mean i dont want to be like EDM so we should try and build a winning culture. Only reason i suggested it is b/c Things are so depressing right now that its hard to imagine us contending for a playoff spot next year.